Apocalyptic Spirituality and Advent in a Time of Corona Pandemic

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) first declared on January 12, 2020 an outbreak of novel coronavirus, later known as COVID-19, in Wuhan, China,5 and on January 30 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), after having received reports of 7,794 confirmed cases in 19 countries including China,6 and on March 11 a pandemic 7 By then, there were already 118,319 confirmed cases and 4,292 deaths in 114 countries/territories Within a year, there are now more than 75 million cases, over 1 65 million deaths in 191 countries/territories 8 APOCALYPTIC EVENT In early months after announcement by WHO of an outbreak of novel coronavirus in China, in spite of stern warnings from medical experts, many thought it was only a little more dangerous than seasonal influenza, having compared superficially novel coronavirus with seasonal influenza viruses and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003 9 President Trump, for instance, was reported saying on March 9, 2020 that So last year 37,000 Americans died from common Flu See PDF ] On October 13, 2020, a joint statement issued by ILO (International Labour Organization), FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) and WHO highlighted the intertwined health and social and economic impacts of pandemic The word apocalypse (apokalypsis) in Greek means literally an uncovering, a revelation or disclosure of something [ ]to reflect on corona pandemic as an apocalyptic event is a spiritual discernment of its revealing function in uncovering deeper truth and reality